Analysis Report

Tourism

Prepared by

North Coast Government Technical Team

Executive Summary Tourism is a growing industry in the North Coast, provincially; and indeed tourism is recognized as having significant growth potential around the world. With its spectacular scenery, rich cultural history, and diversity of landforms, the North Coast has the attributes and appeal to draw visitors seeking wilderness and adventure experiences from around the world. Over 2 million travellers visited Northwest B.C. in 1995/6 generating some $425 million in revenues. Eco-tourism and adventure travel (such as wildlife viewing and kayaking) are among the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry; averaging 10-12% growth per year. In 2000 there were over 1100 Adventure Tourism establishments in British Columbia. The analysis is presented in two parts. Part 1 presents summarized information on the following key components of tourism in North Coast (existing and potential): Visual Quality, Fishing, Hunting and Guide-Outfitting, Kayaking, Wildlife Viewing, Small Boating, Touring, Cruise Ships and Cultural/Heritage Tourism. Part 2 provides an analysis of the visually sensitive areas along the coastline, in comparison with key tourism components identified in the recent tourism opportunity study and also in comparison with other resource values such as visual quality objectives and the timber harvesting landbase. In addition, this part of the report contains a list of fishing guide rod days by lake/stream for the past 10 years. The North Coast Tourism Opportunity Study identified 140 tourism operators currently in the North Coast. The Inside Passage and Highway 16 Corridor have particularly high visual values. The Inside Passage is travelled by visitors from around the world and its scenic values are recognized internationally. Marine sport fishing is still the most popular existing tourist activity with 9 floating lodges and over 50 fishing charters. Ecotourism activities such as wildlife viewing, kayaking and hut to hut touring are increasing in popularity. The Skeena River system provides most of the freshwater fishing opportunities. There are two classified rivers where guided fishing licenses (commercial rod days) are limited (Khyex and Ecstall Rivers) and tend to sell out annually. The cruise ship industry is expected to grow significantly in the next 2-3 years. In 1999, Norwegian Cruise Lines made a test-call, bringing 2700 visitors (1800 passengers and 900 staff) to the city. Between 1992 and 1999 an average of 1425 people a year visited the city on “pocket" cruise ships. In 2001, 38 pocket cruise ships called at the Atlin Terminal. The North Coast has a strong heritage, both in terms of First Nation's culture and non-aboriginal history. This heritage is considered a prime tourism asset with high potential for increased tourism development in the future. Any First Nation's analysis will require close involvement and leadership of First Nation's communities. The Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management is currently working with First Nations on developing several tourism products on the North Coast

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Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..........................................................................................................................................................I 1 DEFINITIONS......................................................................................................................................................................1 2 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................2 3 TABLE 1 - TOURISM COMPONENTS...............................................................................................................................3 4 ANALYSIS METHODS....................................................................................................................................................... 4

4.1 ...............................................................................................ASSUMPTIONS AND UNCERTAINTIES............................................................................................................................................................................4

5 TOURISM COMPONENTS..................................................................................................................................................5 5.1 EXISTING FACILITIES........................................................................................................................................5 5.2 VISUAL QUALITY...............................................................................................................................................5

5.2.1 Strategic planning issues related to tourism, and visual quality ...........................................................................6 5.3 FISHING ..........................................................................................................................................................6

5.3.1 Marine fishery........................................................................................................................................................6 5.3.2 Freshwater Fishery................................................................................................................................................6 5.3.3 Strategic planning issues related to fishing ..........................................................................................................7

5.4 HUNTING AND GUIDE-OUTFITTING ....................................................................................................................7 5.5 KAYAKING, WILDLIFE VIEWING AND SMALL BOAT DESTINATIONS........................................................................8 5.6 TOURING AND CRUISE SHIPS............................................................................................................................9 5.7 CULTURAL HERITAGE.....................................................................................................................................10

5.7.1 Non-aboriginal historic features..........................................................................................................................10 5.7.2 Parks....................................................................................................................................................................11 5.7.3 Marine anchorages..............................................................................................................................................11

6. CONTEXT .........................................................................................................................................................................12 6.1 SOURCES OF INFORMATION............................................................................................................................12 6.2. STUDY CATEGORIES.....................................................................................................................................12 6.3. TOURISM FOCUS AREAS AND BUFFER POLYGONS..........................................................................................12 6.5 MAP OVERLAYS.............................................................................................................................................13

6.5.1 Visual Sensitivity Class (VSC)1............................................................................................................................13 6.5.2 Visual Quality Objective (VQO)1.........................................................................................................................13 6.5.3 Timber Harvesting Land Base (THLB)1 ..............................................................................................................13 6.5.4 THLB STAT..........................................................................................................................................................13

6.6 CARRYING CAPACITY ....................................................................................................................................14 7. ANALYSIS METHOD.........................................................................................................................................................14

7.1 EXISTING TOURISM FACILITIES ......................................................................................................................14 7.1.1 Tourism Focus Areas and Buffer Polygons .........................................................................................................14 7.1.2 Map Overlays.......................................................................................................................................................15

7.2 TOURISM SUITABILITY AREAS ........................................................................................................................15 7.2.1 Suitability Buffers ...............................................................................................................................................15 7.2.2 Map Overlays......................................................................................................................................................15

8. RESULTS ..........................................................................................................................................................................16 8.1 .....................................................................................................EXISTING TOURISM FACILITIES..........................................................................................................................................................................16

8.1.2 Key Points of Interest.........................................................................................................................................16 8.1.2.1 Buffer Area................................................................................................................................................................ 16 8.1.2.2 Visual Sensitivity Class (VSC) ................................................................................................................................. 16 8.1.2.3 Visual Quality Objective (VQO) ......................................................................................................................... 16 8.1.2.4 THLB ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 8.1.2.5 THLB Vs. VSC and VQO .................................................................................................................................. 17

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EXISTING TOURISM FACILITIS MAP… ………………………………………………………………………………….………….,, 18

Table 2 - Summary Table - Existing Facilities .............................................................................................................19 Table 3 - VSC/VQO within THLB.................................................................................................................................20

8.2 TOURISM SUITABILITY AREAS .......................................................................................................................21 8.2.1 Key Points of Interest...........................................................................................................................................21

8.2.1.1 Buffer Areas ................................................................................................................................................................. 21 8.2.1.2. Visual Sensitivity Class ............................................................................................................................................. 21 8.2.1.3 Visual Quality Objective ............................................................................................................................................ 21 8.2.1.4 Timber Harvesting Land Base (THLB).................................................................................................................... 21

TOURISM SUITABILITY MAP ......................................................................................................................22 Table 4 - Tourism Suitability Buffers Vs. VSC, VQO & THLB class………………………………………………….…23 Table 5 -Tourism Buffer Area within THLB……….. ……………………………………………………………………. 24.

8.3 FISHING SITES ..............................................................................................................................................26 MORE INFORMATION ON FISHING AND HUNTING CAN BE FOUND IN THE CURRENT CONDITIONS REPORT FOR FISHING AND GUIDE OUTFITTING. GUIDED FISHING AND HUNTING IS ASSUMED TO BE IN ASSOCIATION WITH EXISTING LODGES OR FROM A COMMUNITY. ......................................................................................................................................26

9. CONCLUSIONS................................................................................................................................................................27 APPENDIX A - SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................................28

APPENDIX B - EVALUATING RECREATION CAPACITY..................................................................................................30 APPENDIX C - MARINE TOURS MAP.................................................................................................................................32

APPENDIX D - VISITOR ROUTES MAP..............................................................................................................................33

APPENDIX E – TOURISM FACILITIES..............................................................................................................................34 APPENDIX F - RESOURCE AREAS & DESCRIPTIONS..................................................................................................366

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Part 1

Definitions / Introduction

1 Definitions Tourism Tourism can be defined as the organization and operation of holidays, especially as a commercial enterprise (The Concise Oxford dictionary). With more and more interest in people experiencing nature, tourism has taken on many different meanings. Generally tourism can be considered in three general areas: front country, mid country and backcountry. Front country tourism is generally considered within and immediately around municipalities; including accommodations, amusement activities, food and beverage establishments and the like. Mid country tourism generally includes areas in the easily accessible travel corridors around communities or near rural areas. Backcountry tourism includes those areas that are remote to access and have little or no habitation in the area. Mid and backcountry tourism are also often referred to as nature based tourism, adventure tourism, ecotourism, wilderness tourism or the like. Excepting when discussing tourism in general in the introduction, this report deals with mid and back country tourism only. Cultural Tourism Travellers are taking more and more interest in culture and heritage of the areas they visit. Cultural tourism for this report refers to any cultural or historical/heritage tourism opportunities. Much of the cultural tourism in the North Coast is related to the First Nations who have inhabited the area for thousands of years. First Nation's tourism has also occasionally been referred to as Ethnotourism. Tourism Opportunity Study (TOS) The purpose of the TOS is to compile information that can be used by communities and entrepreneurs as a tool for furthering tourism development. The products of the TOS: provide a ‘snapshot’ of the area’s current tourism industry; analyze the kinds of tourism activities that could be conducted in areas that may not be currently undertaken by tourism operations; assess the strengths and weaknesses facing the development of designated tourism products in the area; and provide an overview of the best opportunities for development for each of the designated communities within the study area. Tourism Resource A natural or cultural resource that is important for a specific tourism product. For example, wildlife viewing is an important activity in many parts of the province, therefore, wildlife viewing opportunities are a tourism resource. Visual Landscape Inventory (VLI), Visual Quality Objective (VQO), Visual Management Area (VLA) and other scenic management terms – see Visual Resource Analysis Report for the North Coast LRMP. Timber Harvesting Land Base (THLB) The portion of the land base that can support commercial timber harvesting.

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2 Introduction Tourism is a growing industry in the North Coast, provincially; and indeed tourism is recognized as having significant growth potential around the world (Tourism BC, 2002). In 2000, British Columbia hosted 22.5 million overnight visitors generating close to $9.5 billion. Tourism GDP in the province has averaged 3-5% growth per year (total 34%) over the past 10 years. In terms of the resource industries, tourism is second only to forestry in generating revenues for the provincial government; nearly $1 billion in 2000 (Tourism B.C., 2002). Eco-tourism and adventure travel (such as wildlife viewing and kayaking) are among the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry; averaging 10-12% growth per year. In 2000 there were over 1100 Adventure Tourism establishments in British Columbia (6.4% of total tourism establishments). With its spectacular scenery, rich cultural history, and diversity of landforms, the North Coast has the attributes and appeal to draw visitors seeking wilderness and adventure experiences from around the world. Over 2 million travellers visited Northwest B.C. in 1995/6 generating some $425 million in revenues. Approximately 75% of people visiting the North Coast annually are British Columbians. Prince Rupert is a port of call for ferries to Alaska, Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii. A number of cruise ships travel through the district but few currently stop at Prince Rupert. This is likely to change in the coming years, potentially impacting the entire LRMP area. The scenic beauty of the Inside Passage and surrounding coastal areas is recognized internationally. The Yellowhead Highway and VIA Rail provide land-based routes through memorable coastal vistas to Prince Rupert, linking with destinations beyond. Most of the tourism and recreation in the plan area is water-based. There are opportunities for landbased activities such as hiking, camping, and hunting, but these are limited by the small number of accessible roads. Maps of tourism features considered to have the highest potential for development can be found in the Tourism Opportunity Study update (TOS Update, 2001). The City of Prince Rupert Economic Development Strategy identifies the following activities as being key tourism opportunities in the area: boat/fishing charters; sports fishing lodge; eco-tours (kayaking, canoeing, sailing, diving); cruise ship traffic; whale watching and other wildlife viewing; heritage and culture; tourism tied to the waterfront; and flightseeing. A comprehensive North Coast Tourism Opportunity Study (TOS, 2000) was completed in March 2001 (updated December 2001) that assesses the tourism potential in the North Coast Forest District. The Tourism Opportunity Study investigated activities similar to those identified by the Prince Rupert strategy as well as Cultural Heritage tourism and a few land based activities (hiking, ski touring, mountain biking).

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Part 2

Existing and Key Tourism Components

3 Table 1 - Tourism Components Indicator Measure Rationale for Indicator Data for Analysis Age Reliability of Data

Visual Quality

See Visual Resource Analysis

Report High value VLI

overlap with THLB

Most significant measure of scenic value (Super,

Natural product) Indicates overlapping values with forestry

interests

Visual Landscape Inventory, Visual

Quality Objectives, Scenic Areas

THLB

Inventories conducted in 1980s/90s with update to RIC standards in 2000.

(see also Visual Resource Analysis)

Fishing Classified rivers with restricted

angling

Number of marine fishing

charters Number of

floating lodges Number of

marine fishing licenses

Indicates location of important of angling

opportunities Indicates commercial fishing pressures in area Indicates level of fishing pressure in area

Freshwater angling rod days for

classified waters; # charter operations # of floating lodges # of resident and

non resident licenses

Data for specific year, changes from year to year

There seems to be variation

from report to report on number of charter

operations (from 50-80) Changes from year to year

but seems to have been dropping in recent years.

Hunting and Guide Outfitting

Hunter days by species

Indicates trends in big game hunting in plan area

# hunter days for black bear, grizzly bear, moose and mountain goat

Management units do not match plan area

boundaries, guide outfitter territories overlap half of

plan area but do not match boundaries, trend is to less

hunter days

Kayaking, wildlife viewing

and Small Boating

Current and potential operator

use areas

Describes current and potential future use areas

for moderate and high value kayaking, hut to hut, wildlife viewing and small

boat touring

Area within VLI along use area (High

and Moderate potential areas)

User days are best estimates from TOS and

may not be accurate or all inclusive

Touring and Cruise

Ships

Current and potential cruise ship and touring overlap with VLI

values

Describes current and potential future use areas

for moderate and high value touring and cruise

ship operations

Area within VLI along use area (High

and Moderate potential areas)

Potential areas are best estimates from TOS and may not be all inclusive

Cultural Heritage

No measures available at this

time

Since there is little publicly available data, and most of

the key cultural tourism opportunities are related to First Nations, it would be appropriate that these be brought forward by First

Nations themselves.

Recreation Features

See Recreation Resource Analysis

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4 Analysis Methods There are two main parts of the resource analysis: 1 Presentation and summary of existing information The tourism components provided in section 3 were obtained from three main sources: 1) A tourism opportunity study conducted in 2000 and updated in 2001 (see references); 2) The North Coast LRMP Current Conditions Report (2000); and 3) British Columbia Tourism Growth Framework (Grant Thornton, 2001). The discussion of existing information that follows in section 5 comes from these sources. 2 Comparison of tourism areas of influence with the timber harvesting landbase The Government Technical Team has prepared a resource analysis report of visual quality for the North Coast. This part of the tourism resource analysis report includes an analysis of visual quality and THLB data as it specifically impacts the tourism resource. The Visual quality resource analysis report provides detailed information on the various tools and inventories that are used to help manage a high quality, visual landscape. The comparison of tourism resource data with THLB data provides an opportunity to determine areas of overlap of interest.

4 Assumptions and Uncertainties

The following discussion, information and analyses are founded on a number of assumptions about the analysis and uncertainties related to the completeness and reliability of the information used in the analysis.

Many numbers of existing facilities were generated from a Tourism Opportunity Study (TOS, 2000) conducted in 2000/01 – an attempt was made to identify all facilities but the list may have missed a few;

There has been little inclusion of First Nation's cultural/heritage information or opportunity. A TOS is planned for this fiscal year. First Nations are currently developing regional and community-specific tourism strategies. Projects being investigated range from cruise ships to lodges to community-specific opportunities such as hut-to-hut adventure tours and local aboriginal cultural heritage opportunities.

A study of the impacts of cruise ships across the plan area is under way, the information and analysis does not include this information, only recognizes its importance;

Opportunity areas were identified as outlined in the TOS; i.e. With both biophysical assumptions as well as stakeholder input – the areas identified are best efforts and are not meant to demonstrate the limit of opportunity;

The tourism opportunities identified in this analysis and in the TOS are only those which study stakeholders felt were the best opportunity for development. They are not an exhaustive list of what could be developed;

It was assumed that most tourism development is from a marine base or associated with the marine areas. It followed therefore that most of the impact with respect to visuals would be associated

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with what could be seen from shore and that the visual landscape inventory would provide the best measure or indicator of impact on tourism in comparison with other resource values

It was assumed that one of the most significant areas of impacts to the tourism resource would be from timber harvesting in areas of scenic value.

When comparing potential tourism areas with the timber harvesting landbase, the Air Tours section was not used. The assumption was that since the air tours polygons covered virtually the entire plan area, that management options considering air tours should be considered separately;

An assumption is being made that increased timber harvesting along high and medium value tourism areas (polygons) with high visual sensitivities (see classifications in Visual Landscape Inventory – Visuals analysis) has a greater impact on the tourism industry. A further assumption is that greater timber harvesting visual management (per VQO, see Visuals analysis) reduces the impact referred to.

5 Tourism Components

5.1 Existing Facilities

The North Coast Tourism Opportunity Study identified 140 tourism operators, broken down as follows:

Accommodation only: 30 Accommodation and Touring Services (including 26 charter boats): 43 Touring/Other Experiences only (primarily fishing charters): 36 Scheduled Transportation Services/Tours: 5 Scheduled Transportation only: 9 Museum/Art Attractions: 8 Other (includes 7 marinas): 9

Many of the existing tourism operations and the focus for future tourism development are centred on the coastal marine environment and cultural heritage values that give the North Coast its unique character. Although fishing is still the largest destination tourism activity, there is significant growth potential in eco-tourism, cultural tourism and activities associated with the cruise ship industry. One of the key values associated with a high quality tourism product in North Coast is the scenic or visual quality of the area.

5.2 Visual Quality

High scenic quality is part of the overall quality of many tourism products and is a key factor in promoting Super, Natural British Columbia. The Inside Passage and Highway 16 Corridor have particularly high visual values (large numbers of viewers, greater expectations for scenic quality). The Inside Passage is travelled by visitors from around the world and its scenic values are recognized internationally. The Skeena River Corridor is the main route to the Interior, passing through spectacular vistas of the Skeena River and the Coast Mountains

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As the popularity of water-based tourist activities (kayaking, fishing charters, wildlife viewing, etc) increases, there is increasing pressure to manage visual quality in high use tourism areas. This includes viewscapes from marine anchorages and from travel corridors on the water.

5.2.1 Strategic planning issues related to tourism, and visual quality The level of use in some areas is so high that the quality of the experience may be diminished (e.g.

Bishop Bay Hotsprings). It may be necessary to consider limiting recreational and/or tourism access to ecologically

sensitive areas e.g., restricting access onto Lucy Island when birds are nesting. Interactions between bears and humans can result in increased bear mortality. The planning table

may need to consider if limitations on wildlife viewing, bears in particular, are required and how this may be managed.

The planning table may identify visually sensitive areas (i.e., scenic areas), including viewscapes from high use areas such as popular anchorages and recreational areas, in addition to or as a refinement of the existing scenic area zones. The potential impact of assigning additional visual quality constraints to resource development activities such as timber harvesting and development of mineral occurrences will need to be considered as part of LRMP discussions.

5.3 Fishing

5.3.1 Marine fishery Marine angling opportunities can be classified into three categories: charters, lodges, and independent anglers. Charters are generally one-half to one day long and are guided. Lodges offer 3-5 day packages comprising accommodation, food, gear and potentially guides. There are over 50 marine fishing charter operations in the North Coast plan area, based mostly out of Prince Rupert. These operations range from fully catered luxury cruisers to small side businesses on personal craft. In addition, there are 9 fishing camp (floating lodge) operations in North Coast. Lodges offer multi-day packages that include accommodation, gear and guides.

Aside from the requirement of fishers to have a salt water angling license, there is no requirement for commercial operators to obtain angler day permits. This makes it difficult to determine the extent to which tourism related marine fishing occurs. In 1998 there were 1037 non-resident day licenses, 1077 non-resident other fishing licenses and 4874 resident licenses for saltwater fishing sold (TOS, 2001).

The marine recreational and tourism fishery targets salmon, groundfish (including Halibut) and shellfish. The salmon fishery is the largest. The three most commonly caught salmon species within the planning area are Chinook, Coho and pink.

5.3.2 Freshwater Fishery In the North Coast, the freshwater sport fishery is dwarfed by the marine recreational fishery. This is primarily due to the geography of the area. Most lakes and rivers in the North Coast are remote and difficult to access. Nonetheless, the Skeena River watershed is one of the few remaining major Pacific watersheds where record-size Chinook and wild, summer-run steelhead can be found. The combination of a variety of species, large size of fish, fly-fishing opportunities, and pristine wilderness sets this watershed apart from any other area in North America (ARA, 1991). While most of the

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fishing in the Skeena watershed occurs upstream of the LRMP area, the Skeena River is fished heavily as are some of tributary streams and rivers near the mouth of the Skeena.

The freshwater sport fishery has two components: guided and non-guided. The ratio of guided to non-guided fishing within the LRMP area is unknown. Non-guided anglers are most often locals and other BC residents. A number of other Canadians and foreign tourists also choose to fish unassisted. However, a significant market exists for all-inclusive fishing vacations – the types often provided by guides to tourists. Twenty-seven freshwater fishing guides operated on the major rivers within the planning area. The Skeena River downstream of the Exchamsiks River1 was the most popular area, with 21 guides allocated a total of 3816 angler days in the 1999/2000 fishing season. Nine guides applied to operate on the large tributaries at the mouth of the Skeena in the 1998/99 season. A total of 175 angler days were granted to five guides for the Khyex River and 163 were approved for the Ecstall River. Two guides were granted a total of 115 days on the Kwinamass River (AGMS, 2000).

River anglers focus effort on steelhead trout, Coho salmon and Chinook salmon. The two rivers within the LRMP area specially classified due to unique and exceptional angling qualities are the Ecstall and Kwinamass rivers. Both are Class 2 rivers2; commercial rod day allocations are limited and typically fully allocated annually. The Coho fishery has been closed for the past several years, as Coho populations have become a serious conservation concern.

Lake fishing is somewhat limited to a fly-in fishery due to the remote nature of most of the lakes.

5.3.3 Strategic planning issues related to fishing Crowding and visual quality can affect the quality of angling experience.

5.4 Hunting and Guide-Outfitting

The vast majority of hunters in the LRMP area are residents of British Columbia. Non-resident hunters are generally destination tourists who come to the area specifically to hunt. They are required to hire a licensed guide3 when hunting big game. Although recreational hunting may be viewed as a tourism activity, particularly when B.C. residents living outside the plan area come to the North Coast to hunt, this report will not deal further with recreational hunting numbers. The reader is directed to the Current Conditions Report (2001) for detailed information in this activity. This document reports only on hunting through guide outfitting.

Portions of five wildlife management units (MUs) overlap with the LRMP area: 6-3, 6-10, 6-11, 6-14 and 6-15. Each of these management units extends well beyond the boundaries of the planning area, so gathering statistics solely for the plan area is not possible. MU 6-15 has been excluded from the hunting statistics presented below because it overlaps minimally with the planning area.

1 This section of the Skeena River (fully contained within the North Coast Planning area) is unclassified water.

Upstream of this point, the Skeena River is a class 2 river. 2 A class 2 river is the second of two classes introduced in 1990 to provide a diversity of angling opportunities, to maintain

quality fishing, and to improve regulation of the fish guide industry. A class 2 river is more accessible than a class 1 river, but still represents a quality fishing experience. It typically has more local use than a class 1 water. Angling guides are limited to the guided angler-days specified in the water-specific management plan. Angling use by non-BC residents can be limited, but use by BC residents is not restricted, except as outlined in a specific angling use plan.

3 Residents of Canada have the option of hunting with a resident of BC who has a “permit to accompany”.

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Though mountain goat and bears are likely the most common big game species, moose and deer are the most commonly hunted species within MUs 6-3, 6-4, 6-11 and 6-14, followed by black bear, mountain goat and grizzly bear. Small portions of four guide-outfitting territories overlap approximately half of the North Coast LRMP area (See Current Conditions Report, 2001). The remaining half is non-guided. Between 1989 and 1998, black bear was by far the most common species sought by guided hunters, followed by moose. However, although effort for black bear hunting remained relatively constant for residents, it plunged dramatically for guided hunters. Hunting effort for black bear dropped steadily from 505 days in 1989 to just 14 in 1998. This significant drop is attributed to decreased guiding in the area and quotas. The primary guide territory has not been operating in recent years and two of the remaining territories have been in the process of changing hands. In addition, quota restrictions were instituted for black bears on at least two of the territories.

Guides also lead hunts for grizzly bear and mountain goat within the LRMP area. However, for these two species, the number of hunter days and kills for guides were not separated from resident hunters in data received from B.C. Environment. Totals for 1998 were 11 Mountain Goats and 3 Grizzly Bears reported taken.

5.5 Kayaking, Wildlife Viewing and Small Boat Destinations

Much of the paddling in the North Coast is based out of Prince Rupert. There are currently four primary kayak companies in the region which offer guided trips (TOS Update, 2001). There are a number of potential multi-day trips for kayakers and small boat in the North Coast planning area. The North Coast Tourism Opportunities Study identifies the following as current operator use areas: • Prince Rupert Vicinity - Rupert Harbour (short paddling trips to 1 hour), Lucy Island, Digby

Island, Tuquell Island (Metlakatla First Nations), Kitsan Island

• Gardner Island and Bishop Bay (Hot Springs)

• Work Channel (Humpback Whale viewing)

• Khutzeymateen (Grizzly Bear viewing - up to 24 clients per week during May-June accompanied by a mothership for overnight stays)

• Nass River (currently Grenville to Mill Bay)

• Porcher Island (97 person trips in 2000)

• Princess Royal Island and Verney Passage (Kermode Bear viewing)

• Stephens, Dundas and Melville Islands

• Anger Islands on Principe Channel

Additional high potential areas were identified (TOS Update, 2001) for: • Quonttoon

• West Pitt Island

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• The Estevan Group (esp. Campania Island)

• Verney/Gardner Channels

• Aristazabal Island

5.6 Touring and Cruise Ships

Visitors traveling through the North Coast have high expectations of scenic quality along their travel route. For this reason, the North Coast Forest District has established scenic area zones along major travel corridors (see Visual Quality section) Touring accounts for a significant amount of the tourism activity in the plan area (Province of BC, 1998). Many visitors embark or disembark from ferries traveling to or from Vancouver Island, the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii, Alaska or Bellingham. Many travellers are en route to Alaska. Others are doing the "circle route," travelling overland through the Interior of B.C. and then taking the ferry to their next destination. VIA Rail is also gearing its marketing strategies to promote its Northwest route to tourists. Promotional materials describe travel on "The Skeena" from Jasper to Prince Rupert as a "magnificent Rocky Mountain train adventure" to "the Pacific Northwest and fjord country. In 1995, a total of 187,237 passengers embarked or disembarked from ferries in Prince Rupert. Close to 14,000 passengers travelled between Prince Rupert and Skidegate on B.C. Ferries in 1999. Tourism Prince Rupert estimates that 480,000 vehicles arrive or depart from the city via Highway 16 every year (Current Conditions Report). There were 57,880 passengers flying in and out of Prince Rupert Airport in 1999. In the 1980s, over 20,000 cruise ship passengers visited Prince Rupert annually. The number dropped to a few hundred in the mid-1990s. In 1999, Norwegian Cruise Lines made a test-call, bringing 2700 additional visitors (1800 passengers and 900 staff) to the city (Ferguson, pers. comm.). In recent years, the Prince Rupert Port Corporation has been developing the harbour to attract cruise ships, catering in particular to "pocket cruisers" which carry between 25 and 500 passengers. Between 1992 and 1999 an average of 1425 people a year visited the city on “pocket" cruise ships. In 2001, 38 pocket cruise ships called at the Atlin Terminal. The cruise ship industry is expected to grow significantly in the next 2-3 years. The city of Prince Rupert and the Port Authority have conducted a significant number of studies and gathered information on the impacts in around the City of Prince Rupert. There is currently a need however to identify potential impacts across the North Coast LRMP area. The Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management is currently conducting a study to fill this gap in conjunction with the Centre for Tourism at Simon Fraser University. First estimates are expected to be available for the LRMP in the fall / 2002.

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5.7 Cultural Heritage

First Nations have lived and carried out activities throughout the LRMP area for tens of thousands of years. Aboriginal tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry. Cultural/Heritage options are being included in many existing tourism operations world-wide (Tourism BC, Aboriginal Tourism BC) as well as all along the coast of British Columbia. Cultural tourism provid7es low impact, non-consumptive activities which are often associated with Ecotourism. The North Coast has a strong heritage, both in terms of First Nation's culture and non-aboriginal history. This heritage is considered a prime tourism asset with high potential for increased tourism development in the future (Mrozewski, 1998; PREDC, 1998). First Nations cultural heritage sites include petroglyphs, pictographs, ancient village sites and fish dams. Existing tourism opportunity studies for British Columbia do a relatively poor job of discussing and identifying cultural/heritage tourism opportunities, particularly as they relate to First Nations. The North Coast tourism opportunity study dedicates a small chapter to cultural heritage tourism but does not provide mapping and generally does not deal in detail the potential or opportunities of aboriginal tourism. Any effort to conduct this type of analysis will require close involvement and leadership of First Nation's communities. First Nations are currently exploring regional First Nation tourism strategies and will be preparing specific tourism strategies in the next few months. There are currently a number of tourism operations that are built around cultural heritage resources. The Museum of Northern British Columbia conducts harbour tours in the summer, called "A Sail through Time." The tours include a stop at Metlakatla Village to visit cultural heritage sites. The tours also stop at historic non-aboriginal sites such as the Finnish village of Dodge Cove on Digby Island. Metlakatla is involved in a co-venture to conduct archaeology tours out of Prince Rupert to Pike Island (Laxspa'aws). Tour participants are led on an instructive excursion to three ancient village sites and areas with petroglyphs. A number of boat and kayak charters include cultural heritage interpretation as part of their packages.

5.7.1 Non-aboriginal historic features The non-aboriginal history in the North Coast extends over one hundred years. Early settlement in the Prince Rupert area was built around the Grand Trunk Railway and the fishing industry. There are a number of historic sites dotted throughout the plan area that are the ghosts of industries that once thrived and then moved on. Traces of the many canneries that once operated on the coast remain. The North Pacific Cannery near Port Edward is now a museum and National Historic Site. The remains of Port Essington, an abandoned community with two fish canneries, are located on the southern banks of the Skeena River. Other historic features can be found on the islands around Prince Rupert. In the northern portion of the plan area, several old mining towns and mining infrastructure remain from extensive mining operation conducted in early part of the 1900s. The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine recently published a brochure describing the history of the former town of Anyox, located in Observatory Inlet, that was built in the early 1910s to service a copper mining and smelting operation that operated until the mid-1930s. Traces remain of narrow gauge railways constructed from the town of Alice Arm along the Kitsault River to access silver mines to the north. Recreation features Although tourism is considered distinct from recreation, the two sectors share many values and areas of interest. This section does not include recreation areas and information specifically but in many cases the discussions would overlap. This section includes only a brief discussion of parks and marine anchorages. For recreation, the reader is encouraged to look at the referenced section.

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5.7.2 Parks There are eleven provincial parks and ecological reserves in the plan area (see Protected Areas Section). The Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary is a park that provides outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities. While promotion of the park for grizzly viewing is not promoted, the sanctuary has become a destination for tourists and recreationists, who can witness grizzlies feeding from the safety of their boats. This park is managed in the spirit of co-operation, respect and friendship between BC Parks and the Stewardship of the Gitsi’is Tribe. The park is also managed in a manner that recognizes the conservation of grizzly bears as the highest priority, and in a manner consistent with the maintenance of the traditional territories, the protection of historic cultural sites, and the exercise of any aboriginal rights by the Stewardship of the Gitsi’is Tribe. The only access to the park is by water and visitors are not permitted on to land without a permit.

5.7.3 Marine anchorages As previously mentioned, much of the recreational activity in the North Coast is water-based. The current conditions report describes locations and features of 27 anchorages in the North Coast. These areas provide suitable shelter, depth and bottom conditions to be reliable stopping places for pleasure boats (motorized and sail) and kayakers. They may or may not have moorage buoys or campsites.

PART 3

ANALYSIS OF TOURISM ON THE NORTH COAST

6. CONTEXT This portion of the report is an analysis of key tourism components and related visually sensitive areas on the North Coast in comparison with and other visual resource values such as Visual Sensitivity Class and Visual Quality Objective. The purpose is to provide initial input for a base case analysis of tourism on the North Coast. The study concentrates on tourism buffer areas around existing tourism facilities and areas identified as having high suitability for tourism.

6.1 Sources of Information • Ministry of Forest Visual landscape Inventory • Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management GIS data warehouse • Tourism Opportunity Study for the North Coast Forest District, March 2000 • North Coast Tourism Opportunity Study Suitability Mapping and Tourism Use Mapping study

December 2001 • Tourism Analysis for the Base Case North Coast LRMP

(see Appendix A – “Supporting Documents” below).

6.2 Study Categories The analysis of tourism is presented in three basic categories:

A. Existing Facilities B. Tourism suitability C. Freshwater Fishing

Note that an analysis of marine tour routes was also conducted (see map Appendix C). The areas of influence captured by this category of study incorporated channels along existing marine tour routes, and as a result the buffer areas were very large and not practical for this analysis.

6.3. Tourism Focus Areas and Buffer Polygons The first phase of this analysis involves development of focus areas for both existing facilities and areas suitable for tourism (categories A and B above). The second part of the analysis entails defining areas of influence, or buffer polygons around the tourism focus areas. The freshwater fishing analysis is not as detailed as the first two categories and is basically a list of guided rod days per watercourse per year for the past ten years.

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6.5 Map Overlays

The two tourism buffer area maps are overlain with the following Visual Landscape Inventory (VLI)1 maps to illustrate the visual sensitivity of the tourism buffer areas. The buffer maps are also overlain with THLB maps to determine the extent of overlap if any, with other interests:

6.5.1 Visual Sensitivity Class (VSC) 1 VSC is an overall measure of the sensitivity of the landscape to visual alteration. It records a variety of social (viewing) and biophysical attributes of the visible landscape. It reflects the likelihood that logging and road building would give rise to some degree of concern or criticism. VSC rankings are as follows:

1 – VH (very high sensitivity) 2 - H (high sensitivity) 3 – M (moderate sensitivity) 4 – L (low sensitivity) N (not sensitive) U (unclassified)

This overlay illustrates how much of each sensitivity class falls within a tourism buffer polygon.

6.5.2 Visual Quality Objective (VQO)1 VQOs are resource management objectives or landbase categories assigned by MoF to harvesting areas to provide guidance in timber harvest planning. The VQO categories are as follows:

Preservation Retention Partial Retention Modification Blank

This overlay illustrates how much of each VQO category falls within each tourism buffer area.

6.5.3 Timber Harvesting Land Base (THLB) 1 The database also shows how much of each buffer area has an operable Timber Harvesting Landbase classification (“Operable” or “Marginally Operable”).

1 Visual Landscape Inventory, Visual Sensitivity Class, Visual Quality Objective and Timber Harvesting Land Base classifications are described in detail in the Visual Resource Analysis Report for the North Coast LRMP.

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6.6 Carrying Capacity

This analysis does not deal with carrying capacity (limits of acceptable change) for the North Coast. It is worth noting however, that other LRMPs have dealt with this issue in order to ensure protection of the resource. An example of how this was done is included in Appendix B – “Sea to Sky Land and Resource Management Plan - Evaluating Recreation Capacity on Crown Land in BC”.

7. ANALYSIS METHOD The general process used in this analysis is to define areas important to tourism and then to determine the location and extent of overlap in interest within these areas. This procedure is done in two segments – existing facilities and areas with high tourism suitability.

7.1 Existing Tourism Facilities

7.1.1 Tourism Focus Areas and Buffer Polygons Existing tourism facilities are bases for operations or satellite camps managed by tourism operators on the North Coast. Focus areas defined for existing tourism facilities are based on ‘Clusters’ of facilities, since facilities tended to occur in groups, and the buffer areas overlapped. Notes:

A list of facilities in each category is in Appendix E. Bases and camps database includes potential bases and camps (i.e. existing applications to

Land and Water BC). These are broken out in the data table. To make the information easier to grasp, the data is also divided into the following ‘Scenic

Areas’: (Douglas/Gribell, Inside Passage, Portland/Work Channel and Skeena River Corridor. A fifth category of ‘blank’ represents areas for which there is no data).

Facilities are categorized as follows:

“A” accommodations - hotel, motel, bed & breakfasts, RV park (one) “L” lodges – lodge, resort, floating lodge “M” marinas “B” bases - (potential, and total potential/existing) “C” camps - (potential, and total potential/existing)

Buffer polygons are defined as areas of influence around clusters of tourism facilities to either a height of land (using TRIM contours), shoreline, or 8 km.

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7.1.2 Map Overlays The above facilities buffer map is overlain with the following maps to determine how much of the buffer falls within each category:

• Visual Sensitivity Class (VSC) • Visual management areas (VQO) • Timber Harvesting Land Base (THLB)

7.2 Tourism Suitability Areas

The purpose of developing this map and database is to define areas important to the tourism resource (that is, areas which are logical and suitable for tourism use) and to determine the extent of VLI and THLB classifications within each area.

7.2.1 Suitability Buffers The suitability buffer boundaries are determined by: • Merging of kayaking, hut-to-hut, wildlife viewing and lodge suitability area maps from the North Coast Tourism Opportunity Study – Suitability Mapping and Tourism Use Mapping December 2001. • Following existing scenic area boundaries where possible. (see map titled: “North Coast LRMP Tourism Focus Areas Based on Kayak, Hut-to-Hut Wildlife Viewing and Lodge Suitability Mapping” in Section 9.2 below). The above tourism suitability buffer map is overlain with the Visual Quality and THLB maps described in the “Context” section above. To make the data more manageable, the study area is broken down into 17 logical geographic units or resource areas (unit codes A – Q). These resource areas and comments concerning their general tourism appeal are included in the “Results” Appendix E.

7.2.2 Map Overlays The suitability buffer maps are overlain with the following maps to determine how much of each visual and THLB class fell within the buffer areas:

• Visual Sensitivity Class (VSC) • Visual management areas (VQO) • Timber Harvesting Land Base (THLB)

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8. RESULTS

8.1 Existing Tourism Facilities The following map shows existing tourism facility buffer areas in green. The data base on the next page (Table 2 is a tabulation of the following areas:

• Size of buffers around existing facilities • How much buffer falls within each scenic area • How much of each visual sensitivity class is within each buffer area • How much of each visual quality objective class is within each buffer area • The area of operable and marginally operable THLB is with each buffer area

Table 2 illustrates what Visual Sensitivity Class and what Visual Quality Objective Class falls within the THLB area.

8.1.2 Key Points of Interest

8.1.2.1 Buffer Area (Table 2 below)

138,789 Ha of buffer were defined around existing tourism facilities (18% of the study

area)

8.1.2.2 Visual Sensitivity Class (VSC) (Table 2 below)

30% (42,237 Ha) of the existing tourism facility buffer area had a visual sensitivity class

of “very high” or “high” (2.5% of the study area)

8.1.2.3 Visual Quality Objective (VQO) (Table 2 below)

3 % (3,905 Ha) of the buffered areas has a VQO classification of “preservation” 8 % (11,403 Ha) of the buffered areas has a VQO classification of “retention” 11 % (14,645 Ha) of the buffered areas has a VQO classification of “partial retention” 17 % (23,516 Ha) of the buffered areas has a VQO classification of “modification” The remaining 61 % (85,310 Ha) of the buffered areas has a VQO classification of

“blank”

8.1.2.4 THLB (Table 2 below)

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8% (11095 Ha) of the buffered area has a THLB classification of “Operable” or “Marginally Operable” (8,233 and 2,862 Ha respectively)

8.1.2.5 THLB Vs. VSC and VQO (Table 3 below)

21% (28,851Ha) of the buffer area is THLB 10% (12,300 Ha ) of the THLB STAT within the buffer area had a VSC classification of

“Very High” or “High” 3.5% (47,55Ha) of the THLB STAT within the buffer area had a VQO classification of

“Preservation”, “Retention” or “Partial Retention”.

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TABLE 2 - SUMMARY OF EXISTING FACILITY BUFFER AREAS (HECTARES)

SUM – HOTELS & B&Bs

SUM - LODGE

SUM - MARINA

TOTAL - EXISTING FACILITIES

SUM - POTENTIAL BASES &CAMPS

TOTAL - EXISTING & POTENTIAL FACILITIES

Total - all areas in Hectares 46648 99987 50640 138789 11576 236409

FIELD VISUAL SENSITIVITY CLASSIFICATION

1 - very high 9823 18591 11423 28530 4079 326092 – high 3690 7518 6862 13707 16481 26741

3 – moderate 3283 8017 1863 10236 4161 137364 – low 756 1295 756 1998 4828 4860

N 2770 2488 1906 7595 1899 9118U 26326 47783 27829 76678 74824 140395

Blank 45 45 8905 8951 VISUAL QUALITY OBJECTIVE

P – preservation 3833 3303 3843 3905 0 3905 R – retention 6396 8745 7369 11403 0 11403

PR - partial retention 5510 6429 6415 14654 5893 20113 M – modification 2984 16069 4643 23516 1294 24811

Blank (outside Visual Management Area) 27926 51191 28370 85310 107990 176177

THLB – AREA

OPERABLE 2479 5996 8233 5893 13787 MARGINALLY OPERABLE 787 1902 2862 1018 3816

SCENIC AREAS

DOUGLAS/GRIBBELL 3398 3398 3525 6923INSIDE PASSAGE 11420 13681 12449 33558 13946 46038

PORTLAND / WORK CHANNEL 11178 22098 10659 45983 9959 55943SKEENA RIVER CORRIDOR 24050 25520 24134 31413 0 31413

Blank 24437 0 24437 87746 96092

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TABLE 3 - VSC & VQO – THLB STAT WITHIN BUFFER AREA

THLB - STAT - total (in tourism focus area) T - Timber Harvesting Land Base Visual Sensitivity Class 28,851 635 62,156 52 1,785 5,651 1,575 1,696 3,111 1,433 178 200 5,703 196 92 631 3,621 135

1 - very high sensitivity 7,189 310 516 1,973 958 371 867 101 1,716 324 53 02 - high sensitivity 7,111 8 665 180 1,998 473 214 413 45 31 2,705 0 167 211

3 - moderate sensitivity 2,098 129 14 519 527 12 422 234 85 84 6 41 17 84 - low sensitivity 143 0 0 25 67 0 31 0 19 1

N 1,530 51 0 37 334 18 46 135 0 104 804 0U 10,753 137 1,476 52 533 819 89 577 1,462 1,202 63 45 466 136 92 123 3,347 135

blank 26 14 12 0THLB - STAT - total (in tourism focus area) T - Timber Harvesting Land BaseVisual Quality Objective 28,851 635 2,156 52 1,785 5,651 1,575 1,696 3,111 1,433 178 200 5,703 196 92 631 3,621 135

P - preservation 179 179R - retention 1,226 410 37 351 0 333 94

PR - partial retention 3,350 767 918 825 0 645 67 129M - modification 9,372 135 4,506 1,469 67 414 61 2,670 51 0

blank (outside Visual Management Area) 14,724 500 2,156 52 429 1,145 106 674 1,521 1,433 178 139 2,389 196 92 232 3,347 135

Analysis irrespective of land/ocean or high/moderate tourism values

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8.2 Tourism Suitability Areas The map on the following page shows tourism suitability buffer areas in pink (high suitability) and purple (moderate suitability). The data base on the next page is a tabulation of the following areas:

• Buffers around existing facilities • How much of each visual sensitivity class was identified within each buffer area • How much of each visual quality objective class was identified within each buffer area • The area of operable and marginally operable THLB was identified with each buffer area • VSC and VQO areas within the THLB

8.2.1 Key Points of Interest

8.2.1.1 Buffer Areas (Buffer polygons defined around tourism suitability areas)

A total of 250,134 Ha of tourism suitability buffer area was defined and is illustrated on

the map. Note that high and moderate suitability classes can be broken down if necessary.

8.2.1.2. Visual Sensitivity Class (Amount of each visual sensitivity class within each suitability buffer area)

38% of the buffer area (94,000 Ha) has a visual sensitivity class of “Moderate”, “High”

or “Very High”.

8.2.1.3 Visual Quality Objective (Amount of each Visual Quality Objective class within each suitability buffer area)

0.4% (919 Ha) of the 250,134 Ha of tourism suitability buffer has a Visual Quality

Objective class of “Preservation”.

3% (7,130 Ha) of the tourism suitability buffer are classified as “Retention”.

10% (25,320 Ha) of the tourism suitability buffer area is “Partial Retention”.

17% (42,413 Ha) of the tourism suitability buffer area is “Modification”. (The remaining 70% of the tourism suitability buffer is unclassified.)

8.2.1.4 Timber Harvesting Land Base (THLB) (Amount of “Operable” and Marginally Operable” THLB within each suitability buffer area)

11% (27,445 Ha) of the Suitability buffers had a THLB Classification of “operable” or

“marginally operable” (20,445 and 6,890 Ha respectively)

SUITABILITY MAP (NTS)

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Table 4 – Tourism Suitability Buffer Vs. Visual Sensitivity Class, Visual Quality Objective Class and Operable THLB Classification

TOURISM

RESOURCE AREA A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q

TOTAL VSC Classifications in tourism suitability buffer 250,134 9,493 14,516 13,588 18,511 19,734 5,576 30,629 25,616 17,842 18,455 4,434 26,047 9,568 6,360 5,501 22,637 1,628

1 - very high sensitivity 39,193 3,280 3,044 8,846 3,790 2,302 4,988 1,932 9,677 1,109 162 63

2 - high sensitivity 31,902 284 4,712 1,478 5,812 1,275 2,387 2,513 766 3 144 9,550 155 1,521 1,3033 – moderate

sensitivity 22,984 1,400 1,824 2,201 715 40 6,822 2,576 1,653 4,060 184 423 552 5334 – low sensitivity 2,903 758 742 49 544 60 533 2 176 39

Blank 2,039 386 1,647 7N 13,331 890 772 110 971 151 1,845 1,956 57 157 2,639 3,753 21 9

Unclassified 137,782 3,640 6,449 13,588 10,936 3,389 271 16,729 13,523 13,434 13,702 1,078 1,420 8,969 6,206 2,299 20,592 1,557 VQO – classification in tourism buffer area 250,134 9,493 14,516 13,588 18,511 19,733 5,576 30,629 25,616 17,842 18,455 4,434 26,047 9,568 6,360 5,501 22,637 1,628

P – preservation 919 919R – retention 7,130 2,811 751 1,743 3 1,381 441

PR - partial retention 25,320 3,936 10,487 6,193 2 3,287 363 1,053

M – modification 42,413 2,646 15,403 5,158 499 2,307 1,858 13,935 543 63Blank (not classified) 174,352 6,847 14,516 13,588 10,845 4,330 418 18,892 15,373 17,842 18,455 2,572 8,824 9,568 6,360 3,757 20,601 1,564

THLB classification in tourism buffer area 250,135 9,493 14,516 13,588 18,511 19,734 5,576 30,629 25,616 17,842 18,455 4,434 26,047 9,568 6,360 5,501 22,637 1,628OPERABLE 20,555 488 1,672 31 1,499 4,499 1,280 596 1,874 550 63 223 4,338 22 27 252 3,036 107MARGINALLY OPERABLE 6,890 99 312 17 389 590 228 978 1,092 932 102 83 1,134 159 57 329 371 18

Table 5 - Tourism Focus Areas Within the THLB

TOTAL A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P QTHLB - STAT - total (in tourism focus area) T - Timber Harvesting Land Base Visual Sensitivity Class 28,846 635 2,156 52 1,785 5,650 1,575 1,695 3,111 1,433 178 200 5,703 196 92 631 3,621 135

1 - very high sensitivity 7,188 310 516 1,973 957 371 867 101 1,716 324 53 0

2 - high sensitivity 7,111 8 665 180 1,997 473 214 413 45 31 2,705 0 167 2113 - moderate

sensitivity 2,097 129 14 519 527 12 422 234 85 84 6 41 17 84 - low sensitivity 143 0 0 25 67 0 31 0 19 1

N 1,530 51 0 37 334 18 46 135 0 104 804 0U 10,751 137 1,476 52 533 818 89 577 1,461 1,202 63 45 465 136 92 123 3,347 135

blank 26 14 12 0

THLB - STAT - total (in tourism focus area) T - Timber Harvesting Land Base Visual Quality Objective 28,846 635 2,156 52 1,785 5,650 1,575 1,695 3,111 1,433 178 200 5,703 196 92 631 3,621 135

P - preservation 179 179R - retention 1,226 410 37 351 0 333 94

PR - partial retention 3,349 767 917 825 0 645 67 129M - modification 9,371 135 4,505 1,469 67 414 61 2,670 51 0

blank (outside Visual Management Area) 14,722 500 2,156 52 429 1,145 106 674 1,520 1,433 178 139 2,389 196 92 232 3,347 135

Analysis irrespective of high/moderate tourism values

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8.3 Fishing Sites

Guided angler rod days for freshwater lakes and streams for the past ten years were compiled to provide some indication of the areas of interest for sport fishing. See Table 5 below. Only sites with more than 5 guided rod days per year are included in this table.

Key points of interest:

A large amount of the guided rod days were on the Skeena, Ecstall, Kwinamass and Giltoyees Rivers

Guided angler rod days only represents a small fraction of the total fishing that took place.

More information on fishing and hunting can be found in the Current Conditions Report for Fishing and Guide Outfitting. Guided fishing and hunting is assumed to be in association with existing lodges or from a community.

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Table 5 - Guided Rod days

WATER COURSE WATER

SHED CODE 90/91 91/92 92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00

TOTAL ROD

DAYS NO. OF GUIDES

Aristazabal Island River 915-483500 12 12 1 Bill Lake 910-850400 15 15 30 1 Chambers Creek 500-009000 6 3 9 1

Cherry Creek 915-560200-97200 40 40 1

Crab Lake 910-644700 5 2 7 1 Duti (N) Lake 88 60 148 1Duti (S) Lake 16 6 22 1 Ecstall River 400-016500 40 31 98 91 117 119 132 80 49 37 794 8Ensheshese River 910-863100 18 8 5 16 6 53 4 Freda Lake 910-748900 6 6 1 Gamble Lake 910-740100 9 9 1Gilttoyees River 187 80 83 75 91 19 61 121 24 741 7

Kalitan Creek 910-617600-09400- 11 7 3 3 4 4 32 3

Kincolith River 12 20 12 44 1Kiskosh Creek 28 28 1Kitsault River 910-930200 82 85 70 37 274 2Kiltuish River 910-593300 4 7 1 12 3Klekane River 910-556700 8 2 7 6 23 2Kumealon Creek 910-768900 2 4 6 2Kwinamass River (RA) 95 83 48 143 41 17 49 49 0 45 521 6Kwinamass River 76 69 12 6 180 70 136 549 4

(RB) Khyex River 400-036100 6 7 9 22 3Kinskuch River

520-

40

5 15 60 4

Leverson Lake 910-847300 4 14 4 14 36 3Lowe Lake 910-740100 5 2 7 2Lizard Creek 5 5 1 Onerka Lake 480-360200 6 6 1 Paril River 910-582400 2 5 7 2 Quaal River 910-713900 0 4 25 35 29 12 134 5

915-560200-84700 Red Bluff Lake 100 47 95 95 337 1

Skeena River (DUTI N L) 5 5 1Skeena River 1 400- 325 208 133 112 188 244 205 358 201 214 2188 17

910-584500 3 4 3 10 2 Union Lake 18 10 28

Triumph Lake

910-871900

2

Weare Lake 910-740100 5 5 1

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PART 4

CONCLUSIONS

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9 CONCLUSIONS The continued growth of tourism in the North Coast is expected to continue to put pressure on resource management in the mid and back country. Tourism growth areas include kayaking, wildlife viewing and hut to hut travel as well as cultural tourism, particularly First Nations culture. In addition, there will be significant additional pressure on Crown Lands as a result of increased visitation via Cruise Ships. Maps of high potential areas for these various activities are provided as part of a recent tourism opportunity study. In addition, the Ministry is conducting a number of studies to help support decisions the LRMP table may choose to make: 1) a cruise ship impact study to estimate where and through what activities impacts may occur; 2) a visuals modelling project to demonstrate to table members what various types of forestry activities may look like on the landscape; 3) a First Nations Tourism strategy in which First Nations will lead in identifying tourism potential on their traditional territory. Other resource analyses that should be considered in conjunction with this report are the Visual Resource Analysis and the Recreation Analysis. The tourism resource analysis for the North Coast LRMP entails defining buffered areas around existing tourism facilities and areas with high tourism suitability. The area of various visual landscape inventory classes (VSC, VLI) and THLB statistics within the buffered area was determined. In both categories, maps and tables were produced. In addition, the amount and location of various VSC and VQO classes within the THLB is defined. Finally, the number of professionally guided rod days per lake/stream per year for the last 10 years is tabulated. Existing facilities buffer - 138,789 Ha of the study area is defined as a buffer associated with existing tourism facilities. 8% of this buffer area has a THLB classification of “Operable” or “Marginally Operable”. Tourism suitability – 250,134 Ha of the study area is defined as buffer associated with areas of high tourism suitability. 11% of the suitability buffer has a THLB classification of “Operable” or Marginally Operable”. 28,851 Ha of the existing tourism facilities buffer polygons is timber harvesting landbase. 27,445 Ha of the tourism suitability polygons is operable or marginally operable THLB.

PART 5

APPENDICIES

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Appendix A – Supporting Documents 1999/2000 Tourism Opportunity Study (Clover Point Cartographics Ltd.) Commissioned by the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe opportunities (tourism products) for sustainable community-based tourism development within the North Coast Forest District. The opportunities were to be based on a combination of natural resource, market potential and local development suitability. This project can be viewed at http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/dss/initiatives/tourism/tos/index.htm In addition, maps were prepared showing: 1. Tourism facilities – the base of 140 tourism operations or camps. Potential camps were also listed, based on applications for Land & Water BC. 2. Features – areas important to tourism operators – natural features (beaches, wildlife viewing sites, waterfalls, hotsprings, etc.) and manmade features (campsites, historical sites, trails), or activity ( scuba diving, fishing, kayaking) sites. Tourism use areas showing areas frequented by tourism operators were also mapped. This information is based on interviews with the operators, but it should be noted that not all operators chose to partake in the interviews, preferring to protect the confidentiality of their tour itineraries. North Coast Tourism Opportunity Study – Suitability Mapping and Tourism Use Mapping December 2001 (Geoscape Environmental Consultants and Clover Point Cartographics Ltd.) This study develops tourism suitability mapping and present tourism values on the North Coast. Three maps were developed: 1. Tourism features (update of TOS, showing current and potential operator use) 2. Tourism use areas ranked by level of use 3. Tourism suitability for:

- Air Tours - Hut –to-hut tours - Sea Kayaking - marine cruising - wildlife viewing, and - lodge suitability

Mapping for this study was based on local tourism features, suitability mapping (from the 2000 TOS) and interviews with members of the North Coast tourism industry, in addition to members of the public. Tourism Analysis for the Base Case – 2002 (Clover Point Cartographics Ltd.) Commissioned by the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, this study:

o Develops tourism focus areas for existing tourism facilities and for areas having a high potential for tourism resource development.

o Develops buffer polygons around areas important to tourism, based on visual quality. Two

separate categories of tourism areas were developed – those related to existing tourism facilities and areas and those related to areas exhibiting a high potential tourism suitability.

o Determines how much of each Visual Sensitivity Class, Visual Quality Objective and other

THLB stat classification falls within each of the tourism buffer polygons. Note that motorized marine tours were also analysed in this study also, however areas of influence were related to viewscapes and as a result very large, covering most of the study area. Therefore the analysis category is not included here.

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Appendix B - Evaluating Recreation Capacity

Sea to Sky Land and Resource Management Plan - Evaluating Recreation Capacity on Crown Land in BC

"A Recreation Capacity Management Program for BC"

"Perhaps the most universal agreement seems to be the intuitive belief, and oft begrudging admittance, that there is a point or threshold to the number of visitors to public outdoor recreation settings after which sustainability of the wide range of social and economic benefits from these settings begins to diminish."

Lundquist and Haas; 1999 Congress on Recreation and Resource Capacity, Aspen, Colorado

It is one of the most commonly asked questions when discussing the topic of recreation management on public land…"How much is too much?"

Unfortunately, there is no magic answer.

Various forums have explored this question - Canada's Banff National Park in relation to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (Parks Canada; 1999), South Africa's Kruger National Park (S. Ferreira; 1988); a notable US conference dedicated solely to the topic of Recreational and Resource Capacity (Lundquist and Haas 1999) and, closer to home, Commercial Recreation (CR) strategic plans for BC's Sea to Sky corridor and Toby Creek area (D. Leavers; 2000).

In the CR Plans for Sea to Sky (Whistler) and Toby Creek (Invermere), the author concluded that in the absence of a consistent recreational carrying capacity process for BC… "unchecked and unknown recreational use could jeopardize the quality of the very resources that attract recreation in the first place."

Managing Recreation Capacity in BC

Is Recreation Capacity a number of people and parties, or is it a condition resulting from use by those people and parties?

Most carrying capacity conflicts do not resolve around resource questions per se, but rather around issues concerning values.

"Carrying capacity is the level of use beyond which impacts exceed acceptable levels specified by evaluative standards. Carrying capacity identifies a number for one parameter: use level. It assumes a fixed and known relationship between use level and impact parameters and the capacity will change if other management parameters alter that relationship"

Shelby & Heberlein 1986

Since the 1970's, determining recreational carrying capacity on public lands has been a topic of much

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research in North America . Most empirical models have incorporated some or all of - public review, environmental standards, social experience, equity among activity groups, use by commercial outfitters and use by the public. As such, a number of means to manage recreation capacity and its impacts have been applied: • reservation systems, limited license and permits systems

• visitation limits on length of visits and party size

• fee systems, mass transportation systems, facility design capacities, persons-at-one-time capacities

• size limits on fish and wildlife game species, restrictions on sport harvesting methods

• designated backcountry campsites, policies and regulations defining inappropriate uses

• land and water-based zoning systems

• limits on the size and speed of boats and recreational vehicles

• and many other manifestations of capacity systems. (Lundquist and Haas 1999).

Nevertheless, even with bona fide means and measures, an inconsistent approach to the application of carrying capacity methodologies is most notable.

Here in British Columbia, several Ministries and agencies share responsibility for managing recreation activity on Crown land. Many recreation managers regard recreation capacity management as a resource-heavy program that is cumbersome to implement. Further, most familiar capacity management methods (e.g. L.A.C., V.A.M.P., V.E.R.P., T.O.M.M.) are tightly interwoven, each generally being the product of academic research within jurisdictions dissimilar than our own, particularly outside of parks and protected areas.

DLC Associates previously reviewed a number of Capacity methodologies as part of our earlier work.

A Capacity Management Program for Outdoor Recreation

This Guide presents a Capacity Management Program for Outdoor Recreation and associated procedures for determining Recreation Capacity Objectives (RCOs) for areas of Crown land in BC.

Once formulated, Recreation Capacity Objectives clearly describe the acceptable range of social and environmental impact from public and commercial recreation activity. Although using the Program will not produce an immediately apparent "magic number", recreation managers will understand what level of recreation use produces social and/or environmental impacts that exceed their tolerance. Through the articulation of specific Recreation Capacity Objectives, by monitoring related indicators of social and environmental change, and with the adoption of adaptive recreation capacity

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management approaches, over time a de facto "magic number" can certainly be identified and agreed upon.

In areas selected for the Program, this Guide also presents means by which to ensure that on-ground management adheres to Recreation Capacity Objectives that have been formulated using a collaborative approach. These means include the evaluation and monitoring of environmental and social conditions, management response to unaccepted deviation from an RCO, and a coordinated review of RCOs over time.

The Recreation Capacity Management Program and attached procedures are the result of our analysis and subsequent discussion with provincial recreation managers in BC Parks, BC Forests, BC Tourism and BC Assets and Land Corporation. The Guide is intended for use by those agencies' field managers as part of their established protected area recreation, forest land recreation and commercial recreation planning programs. The Capacity Management Program for Outdoor Recreation has been formulated according to 3 guiding principles that were established by the planning team and its advisors: 1. Any Capacity Management Program for BC must incorporate recognized and accepted carrying capacity methodologies that have been reviewed and applied in some manner within the province. 2. Any Capacity Management Program for BC must encourage and enable a cross-section of government, tourism, commercial recreation and public interest stakeholders to participate. 3. Any Capacity Management Program for BC must integrate with accepted land and resource planning initiatives where practical - not just become an add-on responsibility for managers and planners.

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Appendix E – Tourism Facilities

GROUP TOURCODE TYPE NAME A1 600625 B&B FRAN BROWN'S B&B A1 600602 B&B ADRIAN COOPER'S B&B A1 600640 B&B MERLE BOLTON'S B&B A2 600649 B&B NORTH PACIFIC CANNERY MUSEUM A3 600613 B&B COW BAY B&B A3 600624 B&B FOURTH AVENUE B&B A3 600631 B&B INVERNESS B&B A3 600657 B&B PILLSBURY GUEST HOUSE A3 600658 B&B PINERIDGE B&B A3 600661 B&B RAINFOREST B&B A3 600663 B&B REFLECTIONS ON THE HARBOUR A3 600667 B&B SERVICE PARK GUEST HOUSE A3 600672 B&B TALL TREES B&B A3 600674 B&B TINAI'S B&B A3 600154 B&B EAGLE BLUFF ENTERPRISES A3 600617 B&B DRIFTWOOD VENTURES A3 600606 B&B ANDREE'S PLACE A3 600034 HOTEL MOBY DICK INN A3 600032 HOTEL HIGHLINER INN FLORIAN HOTELS & RESORTS A3 600029 HOTEL ALEEDA MOTEL A3 600030 HOTEL COAST PRINCE RUPERT HOTEL A3 600033 HOTEL INN ON THE HARBOUR A3 600039 HOTEL PACIFIC INN A3 600040 HOTEL TOTEM LODGE MOTEL A3 600038 HOTEL RAFFLES INN A3 600035 HOTEL NEPTUNE MOTOR INN A3 600037 HOTEL PARKSIDE RESORT MOTEL A3 600153 HOTEL ANCHOR INN A3 600031 HOTEL CREST HOTEL & ADVENTURE CHARTERS A3 600036 RV PARK PARK AVENUE CAMPGROUND A4 600633 B&B KNOTTS LANDING B&B & CHARTERS A B&B ALICE ARM LODGE

L1 600653 LODGE NORTHKING LODGE / CHARTERS L2 600665 LODGE SAINT JOHNS FISHING LODGE LTD. L3 600680 LODGE WEST COAST RESORTS L4 600632 LODGE KING PACIFIC LODGE L5 600655 LODGE OONA RIVER GETAWAYS L6 600214 LODGE INLAND AIR CHARTERS L7 600236 LODGE MOUNT HAYES CHARTERS LTD.

L7 600656 LODGE PALMERVILLE LODGE/NASS-SKEENA MARINE ADVENTURES

L8 600616 LODGE DOLPHINS NORTH LODGE

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L9 600140 LODGE HAA-NEE-NAA LODGE / SILVERBACK FISHING ADVENTURES

L10 600618 LODGE EAGLE POINT LODGE L11 600567 LODGE WILP SYOON WILDERNESS LODGE

M1 600628 MARINA HARTLEY BAY (TXAL GIU) MARINE SERVICES M2 600375 MARINA PORPOISE HARBOUR MARINA COMPLEX M3 600420 MARINA FAIRVIEW HARBOUR M4 600378 MARINA PRINCE RUPERT YACHT CLUB M4 600419 MARINA COW BAY HARBOUR M4 600383 MARINA RUSHBROOKE HARBOUR M5 600634 MARINA LAX KW'ALAAMS MARINE SERVICES

B1 600639 POT. BASE MCGOWAN SPORTING ADVENTURE B2 600652 POT. BASE NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPEDITIONS LTD. B3 600669 POT. BASE SPIRIT WIND EXPEDITIONS LTD.

B4 600254 POT.

LODGE PORTLAND CHARTERS B5 600647 POT. BASE NISGAA TRIBAL COUNCIL

C1 600639 POT. CAMP MCGOWAN SPORTING ADVENTURE C2 600639 POT. CAMP MCGOWAN SPORTING ADVENTURE C3 600669 POT. CAMP SPIRIT WIND EXPEDITIONS LTD. C4 600669 POT. CAMP SPIRIT WIND EXPEDITIONS LTD. C5 600669 POT. CAMP SPIRIT WIND EXPEDITIONS LTD. C6 600647 POT. CAMP NISGAA TRIBAL COUNCIL C7 600647 POT. CAMP NISGAA TRIBAL COUNCIL

OUTSIDE

SA 600623 HOTEL FOUR CREST HOTEL OUTSIDE

SA 600647 POT. CAMP NISGAA TRIBAL COUNCIL OUTSIDE

SA 600647 POT. CAMP NISGAA TRIBAL COUNCIL OUTSIDE

SA 600647 POT. CAMP NISGAA TRIBAL COUNCIL

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Appendix F - RESOURCE AREAS & DESCRIPTIONS

Unit Name Associated Community

Recreation Suitability Comments

A Portland Canal

Stewart, Gingolx Moderate

With Alaska next door, the area offers much for boaters and kayakers in scenery and fishing. Historic sites include old mines (Georgie River, Swamp Point, Maple Bay) and the stone house on Wales Island.

B Observatory Inlet

Gingolx, Laxgalts’ap Moderate

Very scenic and unique area. Weather is similar to interior. Historic sites; includes Anyox, Alice Arm, and Kitsault - deserted town sites with an opportunity to be marketed as a recreation destination. Good access to sub-alpine. Suitable for fishing, hunting, river activities, mountain biking. Significant wildlife viewing potential.

C Dundas Island group

Port Simpson, Metlakatla

Moderate/High

Excellent kayaking area for novice to expert. More of a wilderness experience then Porcher Island. Excellent whale watching and fishing. Traditional use area important to region’s First Nations

D

Prince Rupert/Metlak

atla/Port Simpson

Prince Rupert, Metlakatla

Port Simpson High

Many beaches within close proximity to Prince Rupert. (Digby Island, Big Bay, Lucy Island). Includes Pike Island archaeological site. FN cultural activities, fishing, wildlife viewing, boating, kayaking and mountain biking.

E

North Work Channel/

Khutzeymateen

Port Simpson High

Includes an old volcano (Crow Lagoon) and Khutzeymateen Provincial Park. Best known for wildlife viewing (whale watching and grizzly bears). Also for kayaking, boating and FN culture.

F South Work

Channel/ Quottoon Inlet

Port Simpson High

Quottoon Inlet is the most scenic area in the whole North Coast. Large waterfalls and steep cliffs. Forest Service Recreation Site at head of Work Channel. Road access to Work Channel from Hwy 16.

G Porcher Island Group

Kitkatla, Oona River High

Offers the best all round area for kayaking (beginners to expert). Large beaches, wildlife viewing. Excellent beaches and great potential for trail development. FN culture and environmental education opportunities.

H Grenville Channel

Kitkatla/Oona to Hartley Bay Moderate

Great fishing area, few anchorages. Scenic inside passage. Few kayak campsites. Tides run 4 to 6 knots. If timed with tides a kayaker can cover a lot of territory. Contains Lowe Inlet Marine park

I West Pitt Island

Kitkatla to Hartley Bay Moderate

Very good touring area with many inlets and islands (Complex landform with many small islets, inlets, channels suited to kayaks and small boats. Best example of native stone fishing weir in district – still works)

J Estevan Group Hartley Bay High

If this area was closer to PR it would be considered the best area by far for kayaking, fishing, hiking and wildlife and scenic viewing. Remoteness limits potential for area. Areas most important and unique feature is the large island to the east – Campania Island. This island has very fine white sand beaches. Few trees on the island make hiking and viewing exceptional. Trutch Island is comprised of sheltered inlets that lead to an exposed west shore. Old radar station on Trutch Island has houses, helipad, dock and other facilities – currently leased out to shell fish farm operator.

K Princes Royal

Island & Fraser Reach

Hartley Bay High/ Moderate

Best known for Kermode bear viewing. Barnard Harbour contains 2 large fish camps. Anchor and Canoona Lakes contain high cliffs and beaches. Khutze Inlet is known for Grizzly viewing. Undeveloped hotsprings in Klekane inlet. Karst features in Chapple Inlet. Kayaking, boating and wildlife viewing main opportunities.

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L Verney/Gardner Channels Hartley Bay High

Touring area protected from winds. Potential for hotspring tours or routes (Bishop Bay, Weewanie, Europa Pt. /Shearwater). Kermode bear viewing. Superb scenery.

M Aristazabal Island Hartley Bay Moderate

Protected waters provide very good kayaking. Large beaches. Good wildlife viewing. Remote area also used for commercial sport fish.

N Banks Island Kitkatla Low

Exposed to ocean swells on west coast and is hazardous for small boats and kayakers. The east coast is steep. Few anchorages or opportunities for kayakers and small boats. Remote access.

O McCauley/ NW Pitt Islds Kitkatla Low Small beaches, limited anchorages, modest kayaking potential.

P Ecstall River / Skeena R

Prince Rupert/Hartle

y Bay

Low/Moderate

Tidal influence. Potential kayak/canoe route. Post-contact abandoned townsite. Canoeing, fishing, jet boating, wildlife and scenic viewing. Skeena River is a major influence on setting/environment. Strong winds.

Q Nass and Outer Areas

Gingolx/Laxgalts’ap Moderate Linkages to development associated with Nisga’a Treaty.

Two communities. Oolichan runs.

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